44 arrested during peaceful protest outside Brayton Point power plant

Organized by 350 Massachusetts Action and Better Future Action, protestors carrying mini wind turbines and signs like "Coal is stupid" called for Gov. Deval Patrick to close the Somerset coal plant.

AUDITI GUHA

SOMERSET — Holding hands and smiling, 44 protesters crossed the police line and were arrested at a mass protest outside the coal-fired Brayton Point power plant Sunday afternoon.

"They trespassed and put their hands behind their backs. It was peaceful," said Police Chief Joseph Ferreira. "We planned for the worst and hoped for the best and it went as well as we could have hoped."

Ferreira said the protest was by far the biggest the town has seen in recent years. The 100 officers assisting included the local Police and Fire departments, State Police, and Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council.

An estimated 350 protestors congregated at 9 a.m. at the Edward J. O'Neill Memorial playground, gave speeches and marched to the nearby entrance of the power plant at 11:30 a.m.

Organized by 350 Massachusetts Action and Better Future Action, protestors carrying mini wind turbines and signs like "Coal is stupid" called for Gov. Deval Patrick to close the coal plant and "ensure a just transition for workers and host communities from the West Virginian mines to Somerset," according to a press release.

"You can see by looking at it, this is a dirty plant. It's killing us today and it's killing our future," said Sandy Pliskin of Dartmouth pointing to the twin 500-foot cooling towers spewing gray plumes of water vapor.

The plant has long been the ire of environmental groups worried that the plant's emissions can cause nerve and brain damage to nearby residents. The latest protest comes after a boat blockade attempted to stop coal shipments to the plant earlier this year.

Dominion Energy, which owns the plant, paid a $3.4 million penalty in April for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. In documents online protesters allege the plant spews 15,000 pounds of mercury, arsenic, lead, and other hazardous air pollutants into the air each year.

"I am thinking about the kind of air kids are going to be breathing when they are my age," said Christy Pardew from Jamaica Plain, attending the rally with her two children ages 5 and 1. "Also, the people most impacted by climate change are in poor communities and communities of color and we are holding them in our hearts today."

Mary Rapien said she can see the gray towers from her home in Warren, R.I., and her workplace in Fall River. Holding a hand-painted banner for the Ecosocialist Coalition — "System Change Not Climate Change" — she spoke to people about fighting against ecological destruction and the capitalist system that causes it, and for a sustainable world.

"I have two small kids and I don't want them living in the shadow of the coal plant," she said.

"We really want the governor to shut down this plant," said Ann Dixon from Philadelphia, where she says her state she said has been "devastated by fracking," or hydraulic fracturing, a process used to extract natural gas from the earth by injecting a high-pressure mix of water and chemicals.

Dominion has invested more than a billion dollars in the plant to "significantly reduce" its impact on air and water. The Brayton Point plant is capable of powering 1.6 million homes and is "one of the cleanest electricity generators of its kind and is compliant with all environmental regulations," said Dominion spokesman Richard Zuercher.

"Facilities such as the Brayton Point power plant are badly needed in New England to help keep down the cost of electricity, which is already the highest in the continental United States," he said in a statement.

Chanting slogans like "All coal is dirty coal, leave it in the ground," a line of protesters snaked past area homes, drawing some bystanders.

"We live nearby and we are concerned about the power plant but didn't realize (the protest) was going to be that big a deal," said Missy Pimentel, surprised by the turnout. "I'm glad they are here."

Jodi Dupras said she didn't have a problem with the plant. She said at least it's local and the electricity generated is not coming from other countries.

"We need to get energy somewhere," she said. "This is taxing our town and costing us a lot of money."

"I think climate change is a really important issue. The more people that come out and protest, maybe more politicians will listen," said Debbie Wolozin from Sudbury, who said her husband Bob Morrison was one of the protesters who had planned to get arrested.

Ferreira said the protesters will probably be released on cash bail and will have to appear in court on a future date.